Envelope



June 11, 1935. J. SAWDON Er AL ,0 ,733

- minors Original Filed July 11. 1932 2 Sheets-Shoot 1 l Joe p/z Say/don June 11, 1935. J. SAWDON El AL ENVELOPE Original Filed July 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lily/(2772507 5 joscga/z, Sawdon,

' wrjfiau/don Patented June 11,1935

UNITED STATES ENVELOPE Joseph Sawdon, Montrose, Calif., and Victor J. Sawdon, New York, N. Y.; said Joseph Sawdon assignor to said Victor J. Sawdon Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,880 Renewed November 15, 1934 l 5 Claims.

This invention relates to duplex envelopes of the kind in which there is a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, and a relatively large compartment for another class of mail, or both compartments being for the same class of mail. with or without postage provisions for separate postage on each compartment, whereby the entire envelope and its contents will be delivered at one and the same time.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby to insure the opening of the smaller compartment, and the removal of the mail matter therefrom, before the envelope is thrown away, means being provided for attracting attention to the smaller compartment in the opening of the larger compartment, which latter may be sealed or unsealed.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of improvement tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of a duplex envelope of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an inside view of the paper blank from which the body of the envelope is made.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the smaller paper blank that is secured inside the envelope to form the smaller compartment thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view of the rear side of the envelope, ready for use, with certain portions broken away to expose certain portions inside thereof.

Fig. 4 shows the rear side of the envelope with the flap for the larger compartment thereof tucked inside, leaving this compartment unsealed.

Fig. 5 is a view of the front side of the envelope.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 66 in Fig. 5 of the drawings, on a larger scale.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section, on a larger scale, on line 1-1 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear view of one end portion of the envelope, showing the well known string fastening means for releasably securing the larger flap of the envelope in place, so that the contents of the larger compartment may be inspected by the proper authorities.

As thus illustrated, the paper blank from which the envelope is made, as shown in Fig. 1, has a front wall I, side flaps 2 and 3, and end flaps 4 and 5, and the front wall has a. slit or cut 6 therein, in effect forming a flap I, as shown. The

flap 2 is gummed at 8, as shown, to adhere to the outer side of the flap 3, when the blank is folded, and the flap 4 is gummed at 9 to adhere to the outer surface of the flaps 2 and 3, when the blank is folded. Preferably, the flap 5 is left ungummed so that it can be simply tucked inside the end of the envelope, or equipped with usual fastening devices, string or button, metal clasp or gum for sealing.

The smaller or inside blank, as shown in Fig. 2, has a body wall I I], provided at its upper edge with a flap II, which is gummed at I2 to adhere to the outer surface of the envelope, when the smaller compartment is sealed, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The wall III is provided with an end extension or flap I3 which is printed on one side, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and which is printed on the other side, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, or one side only. It will be understood that the gum I2 is on the other side of the flap I I, looking at Fig. 2 of the drawings, instead of on the near side, in order that this flap, when folded down as shown in Fig. 5, may adhere to the outer surface of the envelope. The end portion I4 of the inside blank is gummed to adhere to the inner surface of the envelope, to assist in fastening this inner blank in place. In addition, this inside blank is preferably gummed between the two lines I5, on the far or reverse side of the blank, lookingat Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is also preferably gummed between the two lines I6, shown in this figure of the drawings.

When the parts are assembled, the gum between the lines I6 adheres to the inner surface of the flap 5, so that the flap I3 will be pulled out when the flap 5 is pulled out of the envelope. The gum between the lines I5 will adhere to the inner surface of the envelope blank, thereby closing the end of the smaller compartment thus provided between the outer wall I and the inner wall III ofthe envelope thus formed. Or, if desired, the inner blank can be gummed between the outer line I5 and the outer line I6, providing a broad area of gum, instead of the two narrow strips of gummed surface. Also, in the assembling of the parts, the flap I, which is gummed on its outer side, is caused to adhere to the Wall III, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, whereby the smaller compartment II is'formed at the front of the envelope, into which one class of mail matter may be inserted, by lifting] the flap II, and in which such matter may be sealed by then sealing the flap I I in place on the front of the envelope.

Therefore, the flap H has a warning on both sides, or one side, for the person who opens the envelope, calling attention to the smaller compartment of the envelpe, with the class of mail matter therein. When the flap 5 is pulled out, it draws the flap I 3 out with it, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Or, if the flap 5 is fastened in place by a string l8, or other fastening, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the flap I3 is then exposed on the other side, as soon as the flap 3 is released and swung outwardly. And, of course, instead of a string, the envelope may be closed by any of the fastening devices provided for this purpose.

In this way, therefore, the person who receives the envelope is not likely to hurriedly extract mail matter from the large compartment, and then throw the envelope in the waste basket, without first noticing that the envelope contains a smaller compartment with mail of another class or the same class; for, regardless of whether the fiap of the large compartment is tucked inside, as is often done, or is releasably secured in place outside, the pulling out or releasing of this flap will bring into view one or the other of the two sides of the signal flap, which latter, in effect, tells the person opening the mail that the envelope must not be thrown away until after the smaller compartment is opened.

Of course, if the person opening the envelope looks at the front side thereof first, the smaller compartment will be seen, and will most likely be opened. But the difficulty with'envelopes of this general character, ithas been found, very often, is that the average person is in a hurry and is liable to start to open the larger compartment first, with the back of the envelope facing the person, and in such case the person who opens the mail may not have seen or noticed the smaller compartment. And, therefore, with the signal device or indicating means shown and described, it practically makes no difference whether the person opening the mail has noticed the front side of the envelope, for the opening of the larger compartment will cause the signal device or indicating means to give the desired warning, by visually calling attention to the presence of the other class mail compartment on the front side of the envelope. Of course, by securing the inside fiap l3 a distance over onto the inner surface of the fiap 5, the smaller inside fiap is automatically prevented from being left folded down, when the larger flap is opened, whereby the'contents of the larger compartment may be-pulled out. And, of course, it is obvious that one or both sides of this inner flap 5 may be colored red, or some other shade, to assist in attracting attention to the printed warning found on one side or the other, or on both sides, of this relatively small inside flap.

Of course, as is well-known, all third-class mail, or a combination of third and fourth class mail, or a combination of first and second class mail may be handled in a du-plex envelope. Also, as is well-known, the larger compartment may contain the first-class mail and the small compartment the second, third, or fourth class mail, although diflerent kinds of mail matter are usually handled in another manner. Again, as in the case of mailing license plates with certificates of registration, there are special rulings from the Post Oflice Department classifying the certificate of registration as fourth class mail, and in such case the postage covering the license plates also carries the certificate of registration in the form open permits of the customary and well-known postal inspection of the smaller compartment by extracting the contents thereof by way of the open end fiap 5 without disturbing the gummed flap II, which, in such case, would be sealed as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This, it will be understood, is obvious from the construction shown and described, and it will be seen that the invention comprising the improved signalling device, or signalling means, is of considerable use and advantage in this case, as well as when the flap with the special signaling means is employed for use in other ways.

Of course, while it is usual to place first-class mail matter in a smaller compartment, and mail matter of a lower class in a larger compartment, it will be readily understood that this may be reversed, if desired, and that mail of any class may be enclosed in the smaller compartment, and that mail of any class may be enclosed in the larger compartment, and that either compartment may be sealed or unsealed, as may be desired, according to the circumstances and the particular use desired for the envelope.

It will also be understood that any of the various well-known means, such as strings, buttons, metal clasps, gum, and other expedients may be employed for closing or sealing either com partment of the envelope, as the indicating means and related features are not concerned with any particular methodor means for closing or sealing the two compartments of the envelope.

Thus it will be seen that the signaling flap I3 is movable relatively to the outside flap 5, and that this signaling device is inoperative to close, by which is meant to seal, any compartment of the flap.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with means comprising a flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with and movable relatively to said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller'compartment in the'event that the larger compartment is opened first, said device being inoperative to close any compartment of the envelope.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said closing means comprising a loose flap for one end of the larger compartment, adapted to be tucked inside or secured to the outside of the larger compartment, the smaller compartment being open at its lower edge inside the larger compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside relatively small flap associated with said closing flap, adapted to be brought into view by the opening of the said larger closing flap.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said closing means comprising a loose fiap for one end of the larger compartment, adapted to be tucked inside or secured to the outside of the larger compartment, said smaller compartment having its lower edge adjacent the lower edge of the larger compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside relatively small flap associated with said closing flap, adapted to be brought into view by the opening of the said larger closing flap, said'inside flap having indicating means on both sides or one side thereof, whereby one side is for use when the closing flap is tucked inside of the larger compartment, while the other side is for use when the closing flap is detachably secured outside of the envelope.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said signal device comprising a separate section of paper secured to the inner surface of the larger compartment, forming the inner wall of said smaller compartment, and also secured a distance to the inner surface of said closing flap, so that the opening of the larger flap will tend to unfold the smaller flap.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said signal device comprising a relatively small inside flap adapted to be tucked inside the larger compartment with said closing means, integral with the inner wall of said smaller compartment, and also adapted to be folded upon the outer surface of the envelope with said closing means.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means for forming the larger and smaller compartments comprising a relatively large blank forming the front and back of the envelope, and comprising a relatively small inside blank forming both the inner wall of the relatively small compartment and an outer flap for the smaller compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside loose flap formed by one end portion of said smaller blank.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means for forming the larger and smaller compartments comprising a relatively large blank forming the front and back of the envelope, and comprising a relatively small inside blank forming both the inner wall of the relatively small compartment and an outer flap for the smaller compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside loose flap formed by one end portion of said inside smaller blank, said flap having indicating means thereon calling attention to the mail in the smaller compartment.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said closing means comprising a loose end fiap for the envelope, and said signal device being disposed in position to be exposed by the opening of said loose flap.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1, said closing means comprising a loose end flap for the envelope, and said signal device being disposed in position to be exposed by the opening of said loose flap, said flap being adapted to be tucked inside or detachably fastened outside the larger compartment, and said signal device being operative to give the desired warning when said flap is opened from either position thereof.

10. In a duplex envelope, the combination of means forming relatively large and small compartments, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed for one class of mail, and the larger compartment being adapted to be left unsealed or sealed for another class of mail,

. and indicating means associated with and ren-' dered operative by the opening of the larger compartment to warn the person opening the envelope that a different clss of mail is contained in the smaller compartment, said indicating means being inoperative to close any compartment of the envelope.

11. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with a flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said closing means comprising a loose flap for one end of the larger compartment, adapted to be tucked inside or secured to the outside of the larger compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside relatively small fiap associated with said closing flap, adapted to be brought into view by the opening of the said larger closing flap.

12. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with an outside flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said closing means comprising a loose flap for one end of the larger compartment, adapted to be tucked inside or secured to the outside of the larger compartment, and said signal device comprising an inside relatively small flap associated with said closing flap, adapted to be brought into view by the opening of the said larger closing flap, said inside flap having indicating means on both sides or one side thereof, whereby one side is for use when the closing flap is tucked inside of the larger compartment, while the other side is for use when the closing flap is detachably secured outside of the envelope.

13. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with an outside flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the'front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said signal device comprising a separate section of paper secured to the inner surface of the larger compa'rtment, and also secured a distance to the inner surface of said closing flap, so that the opening of the larger flap will tend to unfold the smaller flap.

14. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with an outside flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said signal device comprising a relatively small inside flap adapted to be tucked inside the larger compartment with said closing means, and also adapted to be folded upon the outer surface of the envelope with said closing means.

15. In.a'duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment for another or the same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with an outside flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said means for forming the larger and smaller compartments comprising a relatively large blank forming the front and back of the envelope, and comprising a relatively small inside blank forming both the inner wall of the relatively small compartment and an outer flap for the smaller compartment, and said signal device comprising a loose flap formed by one end portion of said smaller blank. 16. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded. and fastened together and forming behind said front wall, and smaller compartment alarger compartment for another or the' same class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with an outside flap for closing while leaving sealed or unsealed one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device associated with said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said means for forming the larger and smaller compartments comprising a relatively large blank forming the front and back of the envelope, and comprising a relatively small inside blank forming both the inner wall of the relatively small compartment and an outer flap for the smaller compartment, and said signal device comprising a loose flap formed by one end portion of said smaller blank, said flap having indicating means thereon calling attention to the mail in the smaller compartment.

JOSEPH SAWDON. VICTOR J. SAWDON. 

